Viterbi School of Engineering
Chemical Engineering — Mork Family Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science
Degree Requirements
Undergraduate Program Educational Objectives
Chemical engineering is the only engineering discipline that makes extensive use of chemical transformations (reactions) in addition to physical transformations (refining, molding or machining) to achieve added value. Chemical engineers are employed in virtually all manufacturing industries, from the basic chemical, biochemical, materials, energy, food, pharmaceutical and microelectronics industries to the myriad consumer product industries. Our various curricula are designed to produce graduates who are broadly educated as well as highly adaptable.
Graduates of the undergraduate program in Chemical Engineering are expected to attain the following objectives within a few years after graduation:
- To obtain employment and succeed in organizations where physical, chemical or biochemical transformations are utilized to produce products and services that benefit society.
- To pursue graduate or professional education in a variety of related fields.
- To engage in continuous personal and professional development through lifelong learning.
- To assume leadership roles in their employment organization or community.
Undergraduate Program Criteria
The program leading to a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering provides a thorough grounding in the basic sciences including chemistry, physics and/or biology, with some content at an advanced level, as appropriate to the objectives of the program. The curriculum includes the engineering application of these basic sciences to the design, analysis and control of chemical, physical and/or biological processes, including the hazards associated with these processes.
Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering Degree
The Mork Family Department of Chemical Engineering offers a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering. Additionally, there are five possible areas of emphasis within this chemical engineering program major. These are: biochemical engineering (133 units); environmental engineering (132 units); nanotechnology (128 units); petroleum engineering (133 units); and polymer/materials science (133 units). An area of emphasis appears in parentheses after the primary major name on the transcript.
Sample student schedules are located on the department Web page (chems.usc.edu).
Common Requirements for the B.S. Degree and All Areas of Emphasis (108 units)
See also common requirements for undergraduate degrees.
| composition/WRITING COURSES |
units |
| WRIT 150* |
Writing and Critical Reasoning — Thematic Approaches |
4 |
| WRIT 340 |
Advanced Writing |
3 |
| CHEMISTRY COURSES |
units |
| CHEM 105aL |
General Chemistry, or |
|
| CHEM 115aL |
Advanced General Chemistry |
4 |
| CHEM 105bL |
General Chemistry, or |
|
| CHEM 115bL |
Advanced General Chemistry |
4 |
| CHEM 300L |
Analytical Chemistry |
4 |
| CHEM 322aL |
Organic Chemistry |
4 |
| CHEM 430a |
Physical Chemistry |
4 |
| MATH COURSES |
units |
| MATH 125 |
Calculus I |
4 |
| MATH 126 |
Calculus II |
4 |
| MATH 226 |
Calculus III |
4 |
| MATH 245 |
Mathematics of Physics and Engineering I |
4 |
| PHYSICS COURSES |
units |
| PHYS 151*** |
Fundamentals of Physics I: Mechanics and Thermodynamics |
4 |
| PHYS 152 |
Fundamentals of Physics II: Electricity and Magnetism |
4 |
| CHEMICAL ENGINEERING COURSES |
units |
| CHE 120 |
Introduction to Chemical Engineering |
3 |
| CHE 205 |
Numerical Methods in Chemical Engineering |
3 |
| CHE 330 |
Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics |
3 |
| CHE 350 |
Introduction to Separation Processes |
3 |
| CHE 442 |
Chemical Reactor Analysis |
3 |
| CHE 443 |
Viscous Flow |
3 |
| CHE 444abL |
Chemical Engineering Laboratory |
3-3 |
| CHE 445 |
Heat Transfer in Chemical Engineering Processes |
2 |
| CHE 446 |
Mass Transfer in Chemical Engineering Processes |
2 |
| CHE 460L |
Chemical Process Dynamics and Control |
3 |
| CHE 480 |
Chemical Process and Plant Design |
3 |
| CHE 485 |
Computer-Aided Chemical Process Design |
3 |
Additional Requirements for Individual Degrees
Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering
The requirement for the degree in the absence of an area of emphasis is 129 units. A cumulative grade point average of C (2.0) is required in all upper division courses applied toward the major, regardless of the department in which the courses are taken. In addition to the previously listed common requirements, students must also take the following courses:
| CHEMISTRY TECHNICAL ELECTIVE |
units |
| CHEM 322bL |
Organic Chemistry, or |
|
| CHEM 430b |
Physical Chemistry |
4 |
| CHEMICAL ENGINEERING COURSES |
units |
| CHE 405 |
Applications of Probability and Statistics for Chemical Engineers |
3 |
| CHE 476 |
Chemical Engineering Materials |
3 |
| CHE Technical Elective |
| An upper division CHE course |
3 |
| additional electives (8–9 units) |
units |
| Suggested Courses |
| CE 205 |
Statics |
2 |
| EE 438L |
Processing for Microelectronics |
3 |
| ISE 460 |
Engineering Economy, or |
| BUAD 301 |
Technical Entrepreneurship |
3 |
Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering
Emphasis in Biochemical Engineering
The requirement for the degree with an emphasis in biochemical engineering is 133 units.* A scholarship average of C (2.0) or higher is required for all upper division courses taken in chemical engineering, biomedical engineering and biological sciences. In addition to the previously listed common requirements, students must also take the following courses:
| BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES COURSES |
units |
| BISC 300L |
Introduction to Microbiology |
4 |
| BISC 320L |
Molecular Biology |
4 |
| BISC 330L |
Biochemistry |
4 |
| BIO-ELECTIVES |
units |
| BISC 403 |
Advanced Molecular Biology, or |
|
| approved bio-engineering elective** |
3-4 |
| BME 410 |
Introduction to Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering |
3 |
| CHE 489 |
Biochemical Engineering |
3 |
| Engineering Elective |
units |
| CHE 405 |
Applications of Probability and Statistics for Chemical Engineers, or |
|
| ISE 460 |
Engineering Economy |
3 |
Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering
Emphasis in Environmental Engineering
The requirement for the degree with an emphasis in environmental engineering is 132 units. A cumulative grade point average of C (2.0) is required for all upper division courses applied toward the major, regardless of the department in which the courses are taken. In addition to the previously listed common requirements, students must also take the following courses:
| CHEMICAL ENGINEERING COURSES |
units |
| CHE 405 |
Applications of Probability and Statistics for Chemical Engineers |
3 |
| CHE 476 |
Chemical Engineering Materials |
3 |
| CHE 486 |
Design of Environmentally Benign Process Plants |
3 |
| OTHER COURSES |
units |
| CE 453 |
Water Quality Control |
3 |
| CE 463L |
Water Chemistry and Analysis |
3 |
| ISE 460 |
Engineering Economy, or |
| BUAD 301 |
Technical Entrepreneurship |
3 |
| PTE 463L |
Introduction to Transport Processes in Porous Media |
3 |
| Air Pollution Elective |
| ENE 428 |
Air Pollution Fundamentals, or |
|
| ENE 429 |
Air Pollution Control |
3 |
Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering
Emphasis in Nanotechnology
The requirement for the degree with an emphasis in nanotechnology is 128 units. A cumulative grade point average of C (2.0) is required for all upper division courses applied toward the major, regardless of the department in which the courses are taken. In addition to the previously listed common requirements, students must also take the following courses:
| Chemistry |
units |
| CHEM 453 |
Advanced Inorganic Chemistry |
4 |
| Chemical Engineering and Materials Science (11 Units) |
units |
| CHE 487 |
Nanotechnology and Nanoscale Engineering through Chemical Processes |
3 |
| CHE 391L |
Introduction to Nanotechnology Research (2) and |
|
| CHE 491 |
Nanotechnology Research for Undergraduates (2) or approved upper division undergraduate electives (4) |
4 |
| MASC 350L |
Nanostructured Materials: Design, Synthesis, and Processing |
4 |
| Nanotechnology electives |
units |
| EE 438L |
Processing for Microelectronics, or |
|
| CHE 489 |
Biochemical Engineering, or |
|
| PTE 463L |
Introduction to Transport Processes in Porous Media |
3 |
| Other electives |
units |
| CHE 405 |
Applications of Probability and Statistics for Chemical Engineers, or |
| ISE 460 |
Engineering Economy, or |
| BUAD 301 |
Technical Entrepreneurship |
3 |
Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering
Emphasis in Petroleum Engineering
The requirement for the degree with an emphasis in petroleum engineering is 133 units. A cumulative grade point average of C (2.0) is required for all upper division courses applied toward the major, regardless of the department in which the courses are taken. In addition to the previously listed common requirements, students must also take the following courses:
| CHEMISTRY COURSE |
units |
| Chemistry Technical Elective |
| CHEM 322bL |
Organic Chemistry, or |
|
| CHEM 430b |
Physical Chemistry |
4 |
| CHEMICAL ENGINEERING COURSES |
units |
| CHE 405 |
Applications of Probability and Statistics for Chemical Engineers |
3 |
| CHE 476 |
Chemical Engineering Materials |
3 |
| PETROLEUM ENGINEERING COURSES |
units |
| PTE 461 |
Formation Evaluation |
3 |
| PTE 463L |
Introduction to Transport Processes in Porous Media |
3 |
| PTE 464L |
Petroleum Reservoir Engineering |
3 |
| PTE 465L |
Drilling Technology and Subsurface Methods |
3 |
| other COURSE |
units |
| ISE 460 |
Engineering Economy, or |
| BUAD 301 |
Technical Entrepreneurship |
3 |
Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering
Emphasis in Polymer/Materials Science
The requirement for the degree with an emphasis in polymer/materials science is 133 units. A cumulative grade point average of C (2.0) is required for all upper division courses applied toward the major, regardless of the department in which the courses are taken. In addition to the previously listed common requirements, students must also take the following courses:
| CHEMISTRY COURSES |
UNITS |
| CHEM 322bL |
Organic Chemistry, or |
|
| CHEM 430b |
Physical Chemistry |
4 |
| OTHER CHEMICAL ENGINEERING/MATERIALS SCIENCE COURSES |
UNITS |
| CHE 472 |
Polymer Science and Engineering |
3 |
| CHE 476 |
Chemical Engineering Materials, or |
|
| MASC 310 |
Materials Behavior and Processing |
3 |
| MASC 350L |
Nanostructured Materials: Design, Synthesis, and Processing |
3 |
| Polymer/Materials Electives (choose three courses) |
UNITS |
| BME 410 |
Introduction to Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering |
3 |
| CHE 474L |
Polymer Science and Engineering Laboratory |
3 |
| CHE 475 |
Physical Properties of Polymers |
3 |
| CHE 477 |
Computer Assisted Polymer Engineering and Manufacturing |
3 |
| CHE 487 |
Nanotechnology and Nanoscale Engineering through Chemical Processes |
3 |
| EE 438L |
Processing for Microelectronics |
3 |
| MASC 440 |
Materials and the Environment |
3 |
| OTHER COURSE |
units |
| CHE 405 |
Applications of Probability and Statistics for Chemical Engineers, or |
| ISE 460 |
Engineering Economy, or |
| BUAD 301 |
Technical Entrepreneurship |
3 |
